Methods for combining a class emblem or logo with a navel ring and corresponding apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and methods for combining a navel ring and a logo portion are provided. In various embodiments, apparatus and methods are provided for combining a navel ring and a logo portion by altering the structure of a portion of a navel ring apparatus, such that it is suited to the engravement or attachment of a class or school logo portion. In other embodiments, apparatus and methods are provided for combining a navel ring and a logo portion by providing at least one intermediate attachment portion which enables a logo portion to be included with the navel ring.

U.S. PRIORITY CLAIMS

[0001] This patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of the following commonly assigned copending United States design patent applications: U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/158,484, filed Apr. 3, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/158,537, filed Apr. 4, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/158,536, filed Apr. 4, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/158,535, filed Apr. 4, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,635, filed May 31, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,646, filed May 31, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,637, filed May 31, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,670, filed May 31, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,687, filed May 31, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,641, filed May 31, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,636, filed May 31, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,669, filed May 31, 2002 and U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,671, filed May 31, 2002.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND PERMISSION

[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The following notice shall apply to this document: Copyright© 2002, Ring Barers, LLC.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to methods for combining a class emblem or logo with a navel ring and corresponding apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to navel rings adapted to display an affiliation with a school, college, university or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Today, when a student or other affiliate of a school, college, university, etc. graduates or is otherwise presented with an honor on behalf of the school, college, university, or the like, the student or other affiliate is presented with a rich set of options to display a symbol of the school, or class year, on a ring that slides on and off a finger.

[0005] As illustrated by FIG. 1A, a finger ring 2 a is a likely candidate for the positioning of an affiliation with a school, university, college or the like because a finger ring 2 a lends itself to having a widened portion 6 a at the top of the ring 2 a, which easily leads to the attachment or engravement of a portion 4, which includes a school logo, class year, school symbol, school name, or the like, to provide a class finger ring 2 b with a class portion 6 b. Accordingly, the provision of “class finger rings” has grown into a tradition at schools worldwide, and such class finger rings have been sold for decades.

[0006] However, the provision of affiliate jewelry for a belly button, typically termed a “navel ring,” has alluded the art and a class navel ring has never been provided for several reasons. First, a typical navel ring 10 (See FIG. 1B) includes a first spherical portion 10 a, a second spherical portion 10 c and a stem 10 b that connects portions 10 a and 10 c. In this regard, typically, one of portions 10 a and 10 c screws on and off of threads on one end of stem 10 b, to enable the removal and insertion of stem 10 b through the belly button of a human being (not shown). In this regard, while rugged and resistant to germs, rust, etc. by design due to the sensitivity of the navel region, e.g., typically made of stainless steel or other extremely strong non-corrosive metal, spherical portions 10 a and 10 c are not provided with sufficient space for a class logo, symbol, year, or other text. Second, navel rings, until recently, have largely been viewed negatively by society, regarded to be the product by some of under-aged or misguided miscreants. Accordingly, the jewelry community has not embraced the evolution of navel rings, and has devoted very little thinking to changes in structural design for functional reason, beyond ornamental and other cosmetic changes.

[0007] Given the proliferation in recent years of the wearing of navel rings, i.e., some estimates indicate that one-sixth of college graduates will have their navel pierced at some point prior to graduation, there is a need in the class ring art to provide the ability to display an indication of an affiliation with a college, school or university on a navel ring. In this regard, given the challenges that the geometry of a navel ring presents, there is a need for structural change in the way navel rings are manufactured. Moreover, there is a need in the class ring art to provide intermediate affixation means for use in connection with a navel ring, which enables the affixation of a portion with an indication of an affiliation with a college, school, university or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides apparatus and methods for combining a navel ring and class or school logo portion. In various embodiments, the invention provides apparatus and methods for combining a navel ring and a logo portion by altering the structure of a portion of a navel ring apparatus, such that it is suited to the engravement or attachment of at least one class or school logo portion. In other embodiments, the invention provides apparatus and methods for combining a navel ring and a logo portion by providing one or more intermediate attachment portions which enable at least one logo portion to be included with the navel ring. In further embodiments, the invention provides apparatus and methods for flexibly, or pivotally, attaching a logo portion to a navel ring.

[0009] Other features and embodiments of the present invention are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The apparatus and methods for combining a navel ring and class or school logo portion in accordance with the present invention are further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0011]FIG. 1A illustrates the state of the prior art with respect to finger rings and class logos;

[0012]FIG. 1B illustrates a current state of the art with respect to navel rings;

[0013]FIG. 1C illustrates an exemplary process of combining a navel ring and class or school logo portion in accordance with the present invention;

[0014]FIGS. 2A to 2E illustrate various exemplary aspects of a first embodiment wherein a navel ring and class or school logo portion are combined in accordance with the present invention;

[0015]FIGS. 3A to 3E illustrate various exemplary aspects of a second embodiment wherein a navel ring and class or school logo portion are combined in accordance with the present invention;

[0016]FIGS. 4A to 4G illustrate various exemplary aspects of a third embodiment wherein a navel ring and class or school logo portion are combined in accordance with the present invention; and

[0017]FIGS. 5A to 5L illustrate various exemplary aspects of a fourth embodiment wherein a navel ring and class or school logo portion are combined in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Overview

[0018] As mentioned above, finger rings have a portion that is well suited to the provision of a school logo portion, and navel rings, for a variety of reasons, are not well suited to the provision of a school logo portion. Accordingly, the present invention provides apparatus and methods for combining a navel ring and a logo portion.

[0019] In some embodiments, the present invention alters the structure of one or more components of a navel ring to provide a portion of the navel ring that is well suited to the display of a logo portion. In other embodiments, the present invention provides one or more intermediate attachment means or links, such as a chain, a bar such as a T-bar, or other linking means, which operates to enable the attachment or linking of one or more logo portions. Some embodiments (mix and match embodiments) not only enable multiple logo portions to be displayed, but also enable the interchangeability of logo portions.

[0020]FIG. 1C illustrates an overall process of combining a navel ring and class or school logo portion. In accordance with the invention, a navel ring 10 is altered in some fashion to include a portion for displaying a logo portion 20, which is suited to the display of some affiliation with a school, college, university, organization, etc., thereby providing class navel ring apparatus 100. Optionally, one or more intermediate attachments 30 may be applied to, attached to, or linked in some fashion to, navel ring 10, in order to facilitate the further linking or attachment of one or more logo portions 20. Various non-limiting embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below.

Definitions

[0021] A logo portion, as utilized herein, refers to a shield, emblem, banner, class year, school name, school motto, school mascot, club, degree obtained, awards, honors, and/or any other indication commonly utilized to indicate an affiliation with a school, such as a high school, college, university, professional school, etc.

[0022] A navel ring, as utilized herein, refers to one or more pieces of jewelry intended to be worn by a human being through a piercing on or substantially near the navel.

[0023] These definitions are intended to supersede dictionary definitions, or other sources not found within the four corners of the present document.

Combining a Navel Ring and Class or School Logo Portion

[0024] As mentioned, the present invention provides methods for combining a navel ring and logo portion, and corresponding apparatus, overcoming the difficulties with limited real estate provided on a traditional navel ring.

[0025]FIGS. 2A to 2E illustrate various exemplary aspects of a first embodiment of a combination of a navel ring and logo portion in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2A illustrates a traditional navel ring 10, having a top spherical portion 10 a, a stem 10 b and a bottom spherical portion 10 c. In this embodiment of the invention, and others in which it appears, there is a stone portion 12, which accommodates a gem, school color, ceramic, translucent material, or the like, for additional adornment, and flexibility in representing an affiliation with a school, college, university or the like. One can see that an intermediate linking portion 30, in this case, a non-limiting exemplary chain, which links to a portion 20 a that is suited to the display of a school logo or the like, such as a logo 22, in this case, a non-limiting exemplary shield 22. One can see that when combined in accordance with the invention, as shown in FIG. 2B, linking portion 30, once attached in a suitable manner to bottom portion 10 c, a class navel ring 100 a results having the desirable characteristic that any of a number of logos can be displayed, as affiliated with a school, college, university or the like. In one aspect, the lid of portion 20 a can be unscrewed to reveal a scroll, mini-diploma or other honor associated with the school, college, university, etc. FIG. 2C illustrates a side view of the class navel ring 100 a. FIGS. 2D and 2E are front and side views, respectively, of an alternate embodiment wherein linking portion 30 is secured to top portion 10 a, thereby providing class navel ring apparatus 100 b.

[0026]FIGS. 3A to 3E illustrate various exemplary aspects of a second embodiment of a combination of a navel ring and logo portion in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 3A illustrates a traditional navel ring 10, having a top spherical portion 10 a, a stem 10 b and a bottom spherical portion 10 c. Via intermediate linking portion 30, a portion 20 b is can be included that is suited to the display of a school logo or the like, such as a logo 22 a or text 22 b, or other symbols. One can see that when combined in accordance with the invention, as shown in FIG. 2B, linking portion 30, once attached in a suitable manner to bottom portion 10 c, a class navel ring 100 c results having the desirable characteristic that any of a number of logos can be displayed, which are affiliated with a school, college, university or the like. In one aspect, the portion 20 b can be opened and closed to reveal different logos or text associated with the school, college, university, etc. FIG. 2C illustrates a side view of the class navel ring 100 b, illustrating a third logo 22 c on the front of portion 20 b. FIGS. 3D and 3E illustrate an alternate class navel ring 100 d wherein, the bottom of stem 10 b is altered to directly accommodate linking portion 30, so that portion 20 b is unencumbered or unobscured by bottom portion 10 c of FIGS. 3A to 3C.

[0027]FIGS. 4A to 4G illustrate various exemplary aspects of a third embodiment of a combination of a navel ring and logo portion in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 4A illustrates an embodiment of a class navel ring 100 e wherein the bottom portion 10 d has been flattened in order to accommodate logo portion(s) 22 d (an exemplary non-limiting shield is illustrated). A substantially ringed portion 14 is provided through or attached to portion 10 a. When portion 14 is linked to intermediate attachment or linking portion 30 c, the inclusion of one or more logo portions 20 c for the display of logos or text 22 e is enabled, as aptly illustrated in FIG. 4B. A side view is provided in FIG. 4C. FIGS. 4D and 4E illustrate front and side views, respectively, of a similar embodiment of a class navel ring 100 f wherein the bottom portion 10 d has been flattened in order to accommodate logo portion(s) 22 d and via ringed portion 14 and linking portion 30 d, one or more logo portions 20 d for the display of logos or text 22 e can be included. FIGS. 4F and 4G illustrate front and side views, respectively, of a further similar embodiment of a class navel ring 100 g, without the flattened bottom portion 10 d of FIGS. 4A to 4E, but nonetheless including, via ringed portion 14 and linking portion 30 d, one or more logo portions 20 d for the display of logos or text 22 e.

[0028]FIGS. 5A to 5L illustrate various exemplary aspects of a fourth embodiment of a combination of a navel ring and logo portion in accordance with the present invention. FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate front and side views, respectively, a class navel ring 100 h having a T-bar linking portion 30 e, which may be provided as one (through portion 10 a) or two pieces (secured to the sides of portion 10 a). Similarly, FIGS. 5C and 5D illustrate front and side views, respectively, a class navel ring 100 i having the T-bar linking portion 30 e connected to bottom portion 10 c instead of the top portion 10 a, depending upon whether a consumer wishes for the logo affiliation to be above or below the piercing of the navel. FIGS. 5E and SF (front and side views, respectively) illustrate the utility of having a T-bar portion 30 e. An additional linking portion 30 f, such as a chain, rope, etc., can be attached to the T-bar ends (or other parts of the T-bar 30 e) to enable the inclusion of logo portion 20 e having logos or text 22 f via linking portion 30 d, to form class navel ring 100 j. FIGS. 5G and 5H (front and side views, respectively) further illustrate the utility of having a T-bar portion 30 e, by illustrating that other logo portions, such as logo portion 20 d having logos or text 22 d, can be included via linking portion 30 d, to form class navel ring 100 k. FIGS. 5I and 5J (front and side views, respectively) illustrate the utility of having a T-bar portion 30 e in connection with the bottom portion 10 c, by illustrating an additional linking portion 30 f, such as a chain, rope, etc., can be attached to the T-bar ends (or other parts of the T-bar 30 e) to enable the inclusion of logo portion 20 e having logos or text 22 f via linking portion 30 d, to form class navel ring 1001. FIGS. 5K and 5L (front and side views, respectively) further illustrate the utility of having a T-bar portion 30 e in connection with the bottom portion 10 c, by illustrating that other logo portions, such as logo portion 20 d having logos or text 22 d, can be included via linking portion 30 d, to form class navel ring 100 m.

[0029] One can appreciate from the various embodiments taught and equivalently suggested herein that the invention provides apparatus and methods for flexibly, or pivotally, attaching a logo portion to a navel ring. In this regard, the logo portion can move about the navel ring in an inviting way. Such flexibility also establishes a degree of interchangeability with other logo portions and further provides the ability to include multiple logo portions, and various combinations thereof. For instance the various linking means 30 (e.g., 30 a, 30 b, etc.) enable such flexibility as to ringed elements 14, or other similar type elements.

[0030] As mentioned above, while exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in connection with navel rings, the underlying concepts may be applied to other types of jewelry, such as tongue rings and the like, wherein it becomes desirable to combine a logo portion, despite the difficulty of the combination. Thus, the techniques for combining a navel ring and logo portion in accordance with the present invention may be applied to a variety of jewelry items.

[0031] The present application incorporates by reference the following commonly assigned copending United States design patent applications: U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/158,484, filed Apr. 3, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/158,537, filed Apr. 4, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/158,536, filed Apr. 4, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/158,535, filed Apr. 4, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,635, filed May 31, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,646, filed May 31, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,637, filed May 31, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,670, filed May 31, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,687, filed May 31, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,641, filed May 31, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,636, filed May 31, 2002, U.S. patent appln. Ser. No. 29/161,669, filed May 31, 2002 and U.S. patent appln. No. 29/161,671, filed May 31, 2002.

[0032] While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions to the structure may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function or achieving the same result of the present invention without deviating therefrom. For example, any of logo portions 20, e.g., 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, 20 d, 20 e, are interchangeable and may be provided alone or in various combinations. Additionally, one of ordinary skill in the jewelry arts will appreciate that the various linking portions 30, e.g., 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d, 30 e and 30 f can be provided alone or in combination to achieve the invention. Moreover, as emphasized above, there are a myriad of symbols, words, logos, numbers, etc. that may be used in connection with a class ring, and all of these are contemplated as logos, as described and claimed herein, even though the drawings show exemplary logos, such as shields. Accordingly, all permutations and combinations of elements provided and described herein are contemplated, including, but not limited to linking portions, logo portions and logos. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for combining a navel ring and a logo portion, comprising: providing a logo portion that is adapted to display at least one school logo; providing a navel ring; and combining said logo portion and said navel ring by adapting said navel ring to include said logo portion.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said adapting includes providing at least one intermediate linking portion that links said navel ring and said logo portion.
 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said at least one intermediate linking portion includes at least one of a chain, a rope, a T-bar and a clasp.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one school logo is one of a shield, an emblem, a banner, a class year, a school name, a school motto, a school mascot, an indication of a degree obtained, an indication of an award obtained, a club, and an indication of an honor obtained.
 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said logo portion is openable and closable to reveal further additional at least one school logo.
 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said adapting includes substantially flattening a surface of one of at least one spherical portion of said navel ring.
 7. A method for combining a navel ring and a logo portion, comprising: providing a navel ring having a top portion, a stem and a bottom portion; and adapting said navel ring to include a logo portion that is adapted to display at least one school logo, wherein said adapting includes flattening at least a portion of one of the top and bottom portion of the navel ring, thereby converting said one of a top and bottom portion into said logo portion.
 8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising: providing at least one intermediate linking portion that links said navel ring and a second logo portion.
 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said at least one intermediate linking portion includes at least one of a chain, a rope, a T-bar and a clasp.
 10. A method according to claim 7, wherein said at least one school logo is one of a shield, an emblem, a banner, a class year, a school name, a school motto, a school mascot, an indication of a degree obtained, an indication of an award obtained, a club and an indication of an honor obtained.
 11. A method according to claim 8, wherein said second logo portion is openable and closable to reveal further additional at least one school logo.
 12. A navel ring, including: at least one spherical portion; a stem; and a logo portion that is adapted to display at least one school logo.
 13. A navel ring according to claim 11, further including: a T-bar component coupled to one of said at least one spherical portion.
 14. A navel ring according to claim 12, further including at least one linking portion attached to said T-bar component, wherein said logo portion is included as part of said navel ring via said linking portion.
 15. A navel ring according to claim 11, wherein a surface of one of said at least one spherical portions is substantially flattened, whereby said surface is said logo portion.
 16. A navel ring according to claim 12, further including at least one intermediate linking portion that links said logo portion to said navel ring.
 17. A navel ring according to claim 16, wherein said at least one intermediate linking portion includes at least one of a chain, a rope, a T-bar and a clasp.
 18. A navel ring according to claim 12, wherein said at least one school logo is one of a shield, an emblem, a banner, a class year, a school name, a school motto, a school mascot, an indication of a degree obtained, an indication of an award obtained, a club and an indication of an honor obtained.
 19. A navel ring according to claim 12, wherein said logo portion is openable and closable to reveal further additional at least one school logo.
 20. A method for combining a navel ring and a logo portion, comprising: providing a logo portion that is adapted to display at least one school logo; providing a navel ring; and attaching said logo portion to said navel ring by adapting said navel ring to flexibly include said logo portion such that said logo portion is pivotable relative to said navel ring.
 21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said attaching includes providing at least one intermediate linking portion that links said navel ring and said logo portion.
 22. A navel ring, including: at least one spherical portion; a stem; and a logo portion that is adapted to display at least one school logo, wherein said logo portion is pivotally movable relative to said stem.
 23. A navel ring according to claim 22, further including: a T-bar component coupled to one of said at least one spherical portion.
 24. A navel ring according to claim 23, further including at least one linking portion attached to said T-bar component, wherein said logo portion is included as part of said navel ring via said linking portion, thereby enabling said logo portion to be pivotally movable.
 25. A navel ring according to claim 22, further including at least one intermediate linking portion that links said logo portion to said navel ring, thereby enabling said logo portion to be pivotally movable.
 26. A navel ring according to claim 25, wherein said at least one intermediate linking portion includes at least one of a chain, a rope, a T-bar and a clasp. 